Mara's future with Ducks very cloudy

It is unusual for an NHL team to have eight defensemen on its active roster so it is mind-boggling when one decides to carry nine.

Right now, the Ducks are that very team and Paul Mara clearly sees that he's caught in a numbers game the club ultimately doesn't want to play.

Mara has played in only two games since Dec. 10 and he's an odd man out along with Sheldon Brookbank. The veteran of 11 full seasons is aware that his future with the Ducks is in question after they traded for Francois Beauchemin on Wednesday.

“There's a number of guys in here that are questioning in their mind what's happening,” Mara said after the trade went down. “It's part of the business. As hard as it is physically, it's also kind of tough mentally.

“You've got to deal with it, come every day, work hard and see what happens.”

With Toni Lydman dealing with a serious case of double vision before training camp, the Ducks signed Mara, 31, to a one-year deal worth $750,000 for some insurance on the blue line.

Mara served as rookie Cam Fowler's partner through much of the first 2 1/2 months but eventually lost his job to Andreas Lilja, who was also signed in the season's first week. But it hasn't led the Boston-raised defenseman to ask for a trade and he said he hasn't considered the possibility of playing in the American Hockey League if he were put on waivers.

“You know what? I love Anaheim,” he said. “It's a great place to play. It's something I haven't even really thought about. The decision's not up to me. It's up to management and the coaches. We'll see what happens.”

Ultimately, it might be that Mara's best moment came Nov. 7 when he scored the game-winning goal with 1.7 seconds left against Nashville. Beyond that, it has been a mundane routine of extra workouts after morning skate and a regular seat in the press box.

What you won't hear from Mara is a bunch of complaints.

“I've been in this league for 12 years,” he said. “I'm not the kind of guy that's going to go in and rock the boat and cause controversy. That's not the person I am and that's not the person I ever will be. Whether it's 10 years ago or 10 years from now.

“I'll never be that person and I'll always be a team guy first. I've enjoyed it here. Hopefully continue to enjoy it here. Like I said, it's out of my hands.”

However, Mara remains eager for another opportunity to get his career going again.

“I definitely want to play,” he said. “And I want to play here in Anaheim. Obviously something has happened where that hasn't occurred. It's not going to change my attitude. I'm not going to be an angry person or anything like that.

“Things always happen for a reason. There'll be opportunities hopefully. If not here, somewhere else. Right now, all I can do is come here, skate hard and work hard. Enjoy it.”

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